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The Holy Family - And our families

Fr. Michael MachacekNativity of Our LordDecember 31, 2019
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Holy Family Year A 2019

One day a father and mother were discussing the importance of the 10 commandments with their young daughter and son.  They focussed on the 4th commandment, “Honour your father and your mother”.  The girl then asked, “Is there a commandment about how brothers should treat their sisters?” Without a beat, her brother replied, “Sure – Thou shalt not kill!” 

In the 1st reading (Sirach 3: 2-6) ben Sirach speaks about the human family and how children should respect their parents, like helping them in their old age, and if their minds fail, be patient with them.  In so many ways this reading is a wonderful explanation of how the 4th commandment is to be lived.   And in this day and age when human life expectancy has greatly increased the reality of dementia and Alzheimer’s is more and more prevalent, our 1st reading provides us with some food for thought as to what are attitudes and actions should be with those, particularly our parents, who are suffering from such illnesses.    

Yes, I am not a parent, but I still am part of a family.  And like any other family, my family has had its times of joy, happiness, and pride, but also times of tensions, disagreements, grief and tragedy.  No doubt that could be said of your families, too. Each one of our families are unique, each with its own make-up, its own characteristics, its own strengths and weaknesses.  For better or worse, families are an intimate part of who we are – in fact, families are the foundation of every society, every culture throughout the world. 

In my ministry, I have been with families in times of crisis, and I am frequently gratified and inspired to see how families can set aside past squabbles and hard feelings, and rally around each other with a tremendous show of solidarity and strength.  That’s when familial love and trust really take over.

Today we celebrate one particular family, the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.  While we may naturally incline to idealize them as a perfect family, but to do so would ignore the fact that this family faced tremendous difficulties and challenges.

For example, the Holy Family came close to never happening.  In last Sunday’s gospel (Mt. 1: 18-24) we heard of how St. Joseph came this close to ending his engagement to Mary upon hearing that she was pregnant.  However, Joseph has a dream in which an Angel tells him that the child was conceived through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Only then did he decide to take Mary as his wife.

In this Sunday’s gospel, (Mt. 2: 13-15, 19-23) Joseph’s plans to return to his hometown with Mary and Baby Jesus are derailed with another dream.  This dream warns him that the family must flee to Egypt to escape the wrath of King Herod. They do go to Egypt - as refugees -and only after some years were they able to return to their homeland.

Sometimes I am asked what makes for a good family.  While I certainly am not a family therapist, I can’t help but think of the words of St. Paul at the beginning of today’s 2nd reading (Colossians 3:12-17), in which he urges us to be compassionate, kind and patient with each other, and to be willing to forgive one another just as God forgives us. In so many ways I believe that if all family members tried to put into action those words of St. Paul in their relationships with each other, this would make for a good, strong family, and enable them to cope well when challenging and difficult situations do come their way. 

As we close off 2019, may the example of the Holy Family serve as a role model and an inspiration for our own families throughout the New Year to come.  In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.